Press Statement 2016-098

Reference Number:

2016-098

Date Issued:

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Subject:

Press statement on the issue that civil registry documents such as birth, death and marriage certificates expire

It has come to our attention that there are persons who have the impression that the civil registry documents, particularly birth certificates issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), expire after six months from date of issuance.

In this connection, we would like to clarify and let the general public know that birth certificates are permanent records of the identities of each individual and do not have expiration period.

The facts contained therein do not change and cannot be altered unless, otherwise, there is a court order or the birth document underwent administrative corrections as provided under Republic Acts 9048 and 10172 (Clerical Error Laws). The modifications in information on the facts of birth are indicated as remarks or annotations in the documents

PSA would like to clarify that some features of the security paper (SECPA) wherein the document it issues are being printed, such as its colour, is being changed after some time. The said measure is being implemented to prevent the proliferation of fake documents and to preserve the integrity of PSA-issued documents.

We would like to make it clear that even when the PSA has changed the features of the document it issues from its Civil Registry System database, it does not mean that the previously issued copies using the “old SECPA” are no longer valid. The facts of birth contained in the “old SECPA” is still the same and does not expire unless there have been authorized annotations.

Furthermore, we would like to emphasize that the decisions of the end-users (i.e. DFA, Embassies/Consulates, GSIS/SSS, etc.) to require its clients/applicants to submit birth documents in the most recent SECPA from the PSA for purposes of passport issuance, visa application, benefits claim, as a school requirement, among others, is beyond our control.#